This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/7891955.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Pakistan agrees Sharia law deal Pakistan agrees Sharia law deal
(about 1 hour later)
Pakistan has signed a peace deal with a Taleban group that will lead to the enforcement of the Islamic Sharia law in the restive Swat valley.Pakistan has signed a peace deal with a Taleban group that will lead to the enforcement of the Islamic Sharia law in the restive Swat valley.
Regional officials urged the Taleban, who agreed a 10-day truce on Sunday, to lay down their arms permanently.Regional officials urged the Taleban, who agreed a 10-day truce on Sunday, to lay down their arms permanently.
Once one of Pakistan's most popular holiday destinations, the Swat valley is now mostly under Taleban control.Once one of Pakistan's most popular holiday destinations, the Swat valley is now mostly under Taleban control.
Thousands of people have fled and hundreds of schools have been destroyed since the Taleban insurgency in 2007.Thousands of people have fled and hundreds of schools have been destroyed since the Taleban insurgency in 2007.
Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province Ameer Hussain Hoti announced a bill had been signed that would implement a new "order of justice" in the Malakand division, which includes Swat.Chief Minister of North West Frontier Province Ameer Hussain Hoti announced a bill had been signed that would implement a new "order of justice" in the Malakand division, which includes Swat.
The bill will create a separate system of justice for the whole region.The bill will create a separate system of justice for the whole region.
The BBC's M Ilyas Khan, who was recently in Swat, says the Taleban had already set up their own system of Islamic justice, as they understand it.The BBC's M Ilyas Khan, who was recently in Swat, says the Taleban had already set up their own system of Islamic justice, as they understand it.
Their campaign against female education has led to tens of thousands of children being denied an education, our correspondent says.Their campaign against female education has led to tens of thousands of children being denied an education, our correspondent says.
'Very positive''Very positive'
The government of North West Frontier Province had been holding talks with local militant leader, Sufi Mohammad, on making amendments to the enforcement of Sharia in Swat.The government of North West Frontier Province had been holding talks with local militant leader, Sufi Mohammad, on making amendments to the enforcement of Sharia in Swat.
Sufi Mohammad, a pro-Taleban cleric, is the father-in-law of Maulana Fazlullah, who has been waging a violent campaign to impose Sharia in the region.Sufi Mohammad, a pro-Taleban cleric, is the father-in-law of Maulana Fazlullah, who has been waging a violent campaign to impose Sharia in the region.
[The deal] was reached after realisation that it was the demand of the people Ameer Hussain Hoti, NWFP chief minister Mr Hoti said: "An agreement has been reached with Sufi Mohammad's delegation and this is a great breakthrough. [The deal] was reached after realisation that it was the demand of the people Ameer Hussain Hoti, NWFP chief minister class="" href="/2/hi/south_asia/7892224.stm">Diary: 'End of violence' Mr Hoti said: "An agreement has been reached with Sufi Mohammad's delegation and this is a great breakthrough.
"The recommendations and proposals have been finalised, but they can only be implemented after peace is achieved.""The recommendations and proposals have been finalised, but they can only be implemented after peace is achieved."
Mr Hoti said President Asif Ali Zardari had "in principle... approved this package".Mr Hoti said President Asif Ali Zardari had "in principle... approved this package".
Mr Hoti said the agreement had not been made "under pressure from anyone" and was not unconstitutional.Mr Hoti said the agreement had not been made "under pressure from anyone" and was not unconstitutional.
"It was reached after realisation that it was the demand of the people.""It was reached after realisation that it was the demand of the people."
The chief minister said the government had done all it could and asked for the Taleban to now lay down their arms.The chief minister said the government had done all it could and asked for the Taleban to now lay down their arms.
He said a grand jirga (council) led by Sufi Mohammad would now be going to Swat to get all the factions to comply.He said a grand jirga (council) led by Sufi Mohammad would now be going to Swat to get all the factions to comply.
The Taleban have said they will examine the document before ending hostilities permanently.The Taleban have said they will examine the document before ending hostilities permanently.
Many people have fled Swat to be in safer parts of Pakistan
The Agence France-Presse news agency quoted Sufi Mohammad as saying: "We had been holding negotiations with the government on a 22-point charter of demands for quite some time. There were differences on five points, which were removed in a meeting on Sunday."The Agence France-Presse news agency quoted Sufi Mohammad as saying: "We had been holding negotiations with the government on a 22-point charter of demands for quite some time. There were differences on five points, which were removed in a meeting on Sunday."
Sharia law has been in force in Malakand since 1994. But appeal cases are heard in the Peshawar high court, which operates under the civil code.Sharia law has been in force in Malakand since 1994. But appeal cases are heard in the Peshawar high court, which operates under the civil code.
Our correspondent says there will be alterations to the appeals process - a point of contention often cited by the militants for their continued insurgency.Our correspondent says there will be alterations to the appeals process - a point of contention often cited by the militants for their continued insurgency.
The agreement will bind the provincial government to implement Sharia law in the Malakand division, which comprises Swat and its adjoining areas.The agreement will bind the provincial government to implement Sharia law in the Malakand division, which comprises Swat and its adjoining areas.
The people of Swat have been caught in the crossfire between the army and the Taleban, our correspondent says.The people of Swat have been caught in the crossfire between the army and the Taleban, our correspondent says.
More than 1,000 civilians have died in shelling by the army or from beheadings sanctioned by the Taleban. Thousands more have been displaced.More than 1,000 civilians have died in shelling by the army or from beheadings sanctioned by the Taleban. Thousands more have been displaced.
The Taleban now control the entire countryside of Swat, limiting army control to parts of the valley's capital, Mingora.The Taleban now control the entire countryside of Swat, limiting army control to parts of the valley's capital, Mingora.
Many people in Swat now would favour an early exit by the army as they have failed to roll back the Taleban or protect the Taleban's opponents, says our correspondent.Many people in Swat now would favour an early exit by the army as they have failed to roll back the Taleban or protect the Taleban's opponents, says our correspondent.